‘If we wait, it will be too late’: Hundreds of scientists sign urgent climate declaration

In the wake of the COP30 climate change conference, more than 500 scientists have signed an urgent declaration, stating: “The planet’s future hangs in the balance.”

COP30 ended with almost every country in the world signing an agreement called the “Global Mutirão” (meaning “collective efforts”) – but the final text does not mention fossil fuels, and contains no “roadmaps” to end fossil fuel burning and deforestation.

The Dartington Declaration – co-ordinated by the Global Tipping Points Report team at the University of Exeter and WWF-UK – issues a plea to leaders, policymakers and all people around the world to “act now and act fast”.

It has so far been signed by 583 scientists and 579 other supporters.

The declaration states: “The world has entered a new reality. Global warming will soon exceed 1.5°C. This puts humanity in the danger zone where multiple climate tipping points pose devastating risks to billions of people.”

It says we must “shift our perspective on climate change and nature loss from a gradual process to one in which irreversible and devastating changes are possible”.

With global warming set to exceed 1.5°C, it says that limiting the extent and duration of “overshoot” are crucial to minimise risks.

It calls for unprecedent cuts to greenhouse gas emissions, and fast scaling of sustainable carbon removal from the atmosphere – especially by protecting and restoring natural carbon sinks including forests. 

And it calls for action to trigger “positive tipping points” that can accelerate the transition to low-carbon technologies and behaviours.

The declaration concludes: “If we wait, it will be too late. Policy and civil society must pull together to prevent further damaging tipping points and seize the opportunities of positive tipping points. This is a hugely consequential moment. The planet’s future hangs in the balance. Which way it tips is down to our actions now and in the years to come.”

The Global Tipping Points Report was led by Professor Tim Lenton (Global Systems Institute, University of Exeter).

Signatories of the Dartington Declaration include Professor Johan Rockström (Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research) and Dr Kirsten Dunlop (Climate KIC). The full list is available at: https://global-tipping-points.org/the-dartington-declaration/